If you are a sucker for fresh chile peppers and you don’t feel like pulling off on the side of the road to buy from a roadside vendor, there’s good news, because the 22nd Annual Roasted Chile Festival is coming back to Tucson. Packed with all things chile, you’ll be able to stock up, eat up, and party down with all of the activities and food-based events taking place over the three-day weekend.
The 22nd Annual Roasted Chile Festival kicks off on Friday, September 13 at 8 AM inside the Udall Park Farmers Market (7202 East Tanque Verde Road). Throughout the morning you’ll be able to stop by well over 40 vendors, take in Maria’s Ristras, kick back and relax to live music. There will also be fresh roasted chiles and other specialties on hand for the first day. Whether you’ve been waiting for the Hatch chilies to make an appearance or you want to try every pepper you cross paths with, Friday is a good day to start.
On Saturday, September 14, the festival moves locations to the Rincon Valley Farmers & Artisans Market (12500 East Old Spanish Trail). For day two, the number of vendors increases to over 60, and not only will you be able to enjoy similar activities, plus live music, but there will be face painting (don’t worry, the paint is chile-free), and tasting activities around the market. So, if you’re eyeballing a particular sauce or chile but you’re not sure if it’s right for your particular needs, you’ll be in luck.